I think the 1 gap 3-4 will be very interesting for the Chiefs given their natural physical talents. It really plays to the strengths of our front 7 once we get another ILB. We have a lot of speed and brute strength that, in my opinion, was wasted under the 2 gap 3-4.

Who do you see being our starters at each position on the front seven next year?

Margus Hunt will likely skyrocket up draft boards; I think he'll show exceptionally well at the combine.

With the Strongside backer having more coverage responsibility, I would still be interested in trying out Hali as a 5-tech with Houston sliding over to the weak side. I don't know that he's big enough to pull it off, but I'd sure be interested in seeing him try. He's become an expert at shooting gaps (and getting held), so I think he could make a huge splash knifing through gaps into the backfield.

Watt just destroyed the world in that role. Now Hali's not the class of Watt, but he could be very good.

Hali's developed an array of power moves and has very active hands. His speed is diminishing but his power is improving. Of the 2 players, Houston is going to be the better Weak side LBer over the next 5 years.

So you could either waste Houston's talents by having him drop into coverage a lot as the Sam, you could flip Houston and Hali (in which case Hali would be a complete disaster in coverage) or you could try something that could maximize both of their skill-sets.

I do think that at this point in Hali's career, the Chiefs would be better off with him as a 1-gap DE and Houston playing the Will than they would leaving Hali at the Will and forcing Houston into the coverage role as a Sam in a 1-gap.